Thursday, January 27, 2011

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Department of Conservation has captured forty-six Kentucky elk that will be used as the initial population of a restoration project in the eastern Ozarks.

The Department of Conservation's Joe Jerek says that the group consists entirely of cows and immature males.

"We didn't want to capture mature bull elk," Jerek explains. "They are far too strong to work with safely, and they would need to be sedated and whenever you sedate a big bull like that it really adds stress and risk to the animal."

The elk will be in quarantine in Kentucky for 90 days. They will be treated for parasites and tested for diseases such as chronic wasting disease and brucellosis.

Once brought to Missouri, they will be held in a holding pen for six weeks. After release, biologists will monitor their health by radio collar.